1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,120 Hey everybody and welcome. 2 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,520 We are diving deep today into all this stuff you sent about signal versus 3 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:07,520 noise and global business. 4 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:13,520 You know, uh, it's kind of like you got this amazing team, super smart people, 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,520 but then you end up missing their genius ideas. 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:17,080 Oh yeah. 7 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,520 Cause you're distracted by like an accent or something. 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:19,960 Yeah. 9 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,120 And it happens way more often than you'd think. 10 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:22,520 It does. 11 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:22,840 It does. 12 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:24,560 And that's exactly what we mean by noise. 13 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,280 You know, like we always think of noise as like actual sound, but in this case 14 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,240 it's like anything that distracts us from the really valuable stuff, you know, 15 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:36,960 the signal and the sources you sent in really highlight how this can actually 16 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,800 play out in a global business. 17 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:39,400 Totally. 18 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,320 One of the articles that went right into this scenario where you have this 19 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,720 talented engineer, they got these groundbreaking ideas, but they get 20 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,720 overlooked because of how they speak their accent. 21 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,680 I mean, it's like judging a book by its cover, but like this book could have 22 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,240 like the secret to like a totally new sustainable energy source. 23 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:58,640 Yeah, exactly. 24 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,440 And that whole thing, you know, getting distracted by the superficial stuff. 25 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:02,760 Yeah. 26 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,600 That's our brains, you know, they're wired for like cognitive ease. 27 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:11,960 We're like naturally drawn to what's familiar and unfortunately 28 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,680 that can lead to bias, you know, we might just dismiss someone's ideas just 29 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,640 because their communication style is different than like what we're used to. 30 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:19,040 Okay. 31 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:19,560 I get that. 32 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:21,640 But what's the real impact here? 33 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:27,440 I mean, it's just about being nice, you know, valuing everyone's voice or is 34 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,280 there actually like a business consequence here? 35 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:32,160 Oh, it's way more than just being nice. 36 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:32,480 Okay. 37 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,080 Like one of the studies that you sent in, it said that companies are losing 38 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,160 something like $4.6 billion every year. 39 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:39,600 Whoa. 40 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,120 Because of miscommunication and like these cultural misunderstandings. 41 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,520 Well, it's a lot of money. 42 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:46,360 That's huge. 43 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:48,040 And I mean, what about the impact on talent? 44 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:48,640 Yeah. 45 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,160 Like if someone's always feeling undervalued because of their accent 46 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:56,160 or whatever, they might just like, yeah, get disengaged or even leave the company. 47 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:56,520 Right? 48 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:57,240 Absolutely. 49 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:01,040 And that's a huge loss, you know, not just for the person, but for the company. 50 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:01,840 For everyone. 51 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaking of losses, one of the reports you sent in mentioned a specific case 52 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:13,040 where a company lost out on a million dollar deal because they missed the 53 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,960 signals in a negotiation with like an overseas partner. 54 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:18,360 Oh, interesting. 55 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:18,600 Yeah. 56 00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:19,560 What happened? 57 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:26,200 Well, they were so focused on how the partner was communicating, you know, 58 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:30,520 like it was very direct and all about data that they totally missed like these 59 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:35,520 subtle cultural cues that basically meant they were willing to compromise. 60 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:40,000 But by the time they realized it was too late, the deal fell apart. 61 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:41,440 So it seems like cultural awareness. 62 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,000 It's not just like a nice to have. 63 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:44,800 It's like a crucial business skill. 64 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:45,360 Absolutely. 65 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:46,520 Especially in today's world. 66 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:46,840 Yeah. 67 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:47,440 Yeah. 68 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,200 And you had actually mentioned this in your note. 69 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,480 You said you weren't really sure how to navigate these cultural differences. 70 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:52,880 Oh yeah. 71 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,480 Without feeling like you're like walking on eggshells. 72 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:55,920 Does that? 73 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:56,480 It does. 74 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:56,840 Resonance. 75 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:57,120 Yeah. 76 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:58,320 It's a common thing. 77 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,680 But one of your sources, it was a book on cross-cultural communication. 78 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,320 Actually, it said we should like shift our focus. 79 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:05,640 Okay. 80 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:10,480 Instead of getting hung up on how W people are communicating, we should 81 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:12,680 try to understand what they're saying. 82 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:13,080 Okay. 83 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:13,680 That's interesting. 84 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:15,440 But how do we actually do that? 85 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:20,000 It's easy to say focus on the message, but like our brains, they just 86 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,480 notice those differences right away. 87 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:22,080 They do. 88 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:23,600 And that's where self-awareness comes in. 89 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:24,000 Okay. 90 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:25,760 You know, realizing your own biases. 91 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,920 That's the first step to overcoming them. 92 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:32,800 Like ask yourself, do I value some accents or ways of speaking more than others? 93 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,600 You know, you even mentioned in your notes that you'd like tend to tune 94 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,880 out when someone's talking in a monotone voice. 95 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:38,400 I do. 96 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:39,160 It's true. 97 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,080 We all have these little things, right? 98 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:42,040 Yeah, for sure. 99 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,480 But once we're aware of them, we can start to, you know, challenge them. 100 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,280 And there are actually some things we can do, like some strategies to get 101 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,320 better at like filtering out the noise from the signal. 102 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:53,080 Okay. 103 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:54,480 So let's get into the strategies. 104 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:54,720 Yeah. 105 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,840 You sent over a really interesting white paper. 106 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:57,840 What stood out to you? 107 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,760 Well, one of the key things they talked about was empathy. 108 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:01,560 Okay. 109 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,240 You know, like really trying to see things from another person's 110 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,400 perspective, even if it's like completely different from your own. 111 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,720 And how does empathy actually translate into, you know, like 112 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,160 real business benefits? 113 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,360 Well, the white paper actually breaks it down. 114 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:20,000 Like empathy, it leads to better teams, better problem solving, 115 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,600 negotiations go smoother, and ultimately you have like happier, 116 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,440 more productive employees. 117 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,120 So it's not just about avoiding like misunderstandings about 118 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:31,880 unlocking that full potential. 119 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:32,640 Yes, exactly. 120 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:33,760 Of a diverse team. 121 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,720 The white paper even had this example about a tech company that did empathy 122 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,440 training for their employees. 123 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:40,760 Uh-huh. 124 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:41,800 What happened? 125 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:45,440 Well, their cross-cultural collaboration just went way up. 126 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:46,080 Wow. 127 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,040 And their product development got like twice as fast. 128 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:50,040 That's amazing. 129 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:50,600 It is. 130 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,400 So investing in empathy, cultural awareness, it can actually pay off. 131 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:55,360 It does in a big way. 132 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:55,880 Big time. 133 00:04:56,840 --> 00:05:01,400 You also sent in this podcast episode where a CEO was talking about how he 134 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,800 like changed his whole company culture. 135 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:04,600 Oh yeah. 136 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:05,440 I remember that one. 137 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:05,680 Yeah. 138 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,320 But like using this more signal focused approach. 139 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:08,800 Yeah. 140 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:09,720 What was the takeaway? 141 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:11,040 Yeah. What was the takeaway there? 142 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,000 Well, the biggest thing was he was leading by example. 143 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:14,520 Okay. 144 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:19,400 Like he actually started making an effort to like seek out different perspectives 145 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,320 and really listen to his employees, even when they communicated in ways 146 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:24,600 that he wasn't really used to. 147 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:25,560 That's powerful. 148 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:26,680 It is. 149 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,560 It sounds like it's not enough to just talk about diversity and inclusion. 150 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:30,000 Yeah. 151 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:30,440 You got to. 152 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:31,600 You got to walk the walk. 153 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:31,880 Yeah. 154 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:32,560 Walk the walk. 155 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:33,080 Absolutely. 156 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,400 That actually leads into one of the strategies from the white paper, like 157 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,880 creating inclusive communication guidelines. 158 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:39,440 Yes. 159 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,240 It's about setting clear expectations for how everyone communicates, you know, 160 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,800 no matter their background or communication style. 161 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:47,440 So it's like making a framework. 162 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:47,920 Right. 163 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:53,800 That helps everyone feel safe and respected, but also keeps the focus on the 164 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,240 signal, the important ideas. 165 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:01,800 And that framework should include things like active listening, paraphrasing to 166 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,720 make sure you understand and asking clarifying questions when you need to. 167 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,720 It seems like a lot of this just comes down to being more, you know, mindful 168 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:11,320 and intentional when we communicate. 169 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:12,200 Exactly. 170 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,840 And that brings us to another strategy. 171 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:16,080 Training. 172 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:17,000 Let's talk about that. 173 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,080 You flagged a part in the book about all these different types of training. 174 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:22,920 What were some of the main points? 175 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,480 Well, the book was saying training shouldn't be about, you know, like 176 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:29,680 political correctness. 177 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:29,880 Yeah. 178 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,000 It should be practical. 179 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:32,320 Right. 180 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,960 It should give employees the skills to actually communicate effectively. 181 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:36,880 Across cultures. 182 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:37,640 Across cultures. 183 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:37,920 Yes. 184 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:38,120 Okay. 185 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,480 So what are some examples of training that can help with that? 186 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,520 Well, they mentioned cultural awareness workshops, communication skills, 187 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,440 training, even language classes, you know, to give people the tools to 188 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:53,200 understand different norms and how to handle these communication challenges. 189 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,680 And to build relationships with people from different backgrounds. 190 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:56,360 Exactly. 191 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,240 And this kind of training helps both the person and the whole company. 192 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,520 So we've talked about signal versus noise. 193 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,960 We've discussed like the business impact of miscommunication. 194 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:06,400 Yeah. 195 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,640 And we started to get into some ways to build a more signal focused culture. 196 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,760 And remember, this is just the beginning. 197 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:14,160 Yeah. 198 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:18,600 There's so much more to talk about, like how to handle those tricky situations 199 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:23,760 where the noise is just hard to ignore and how to advocate for change within a company. 200 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,840 So stay tuned for part two, where we'll dive into all of that. 201 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:27,480 It's going to be good. 202 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:28,160 It's going to be great. 203 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:29,320 All right. 204 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,120 So welcome back to our deep dive into signal versus noise. 205 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:32,360 Yeah. 206 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,680 It's great to be back before we get into even more of those strategies. 207 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,600 Let's talk about what happens when we just get this whole 208 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:40,440 signal versus noise thing wrong. 209 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:41,080 Oh yeah. 210 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:46,640 You highlighted a section in one of those articles about how this can impact 211 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,480 employees, like on a personal level. 212 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:49,880 Yeah. 213 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:50,120 Yeah. 214 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:51,440 What stood out to you there? 215 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,200 You know, it was interesting. 216 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,960 The article really focused on the emotional side of it. 217 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:56,280 Okay. 218 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:02,360 Like imagine always being judged for your accent, your grammar, instead of your actual 219 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:03,000 ideas. 220 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:03,400 Yeah. 221 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,480 It's got to be so demoralized. 222 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:05,800 Yeah. 223 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,680 It's like constantly being told your ideas are great, Bayete. 224 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:09,600 Exactly. 225 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,080 And that, but just hangs there. 226 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:12,400 Right. 227 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,080 Overshadowing everything you just said. 228 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:14,360 Yeah. 229 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:19,080 And over time, that can really erode someone's confidence, their motivation, 230 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,680 even their sense of belonging at the company. 231 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,720 They might just stop sharing those great ideas. 232 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:23,960 Yeah. 233 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:28,080 They might start to self-censor, hold back because they're afraid of being judged. 234 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:29,080 Afraid to speak up. 235 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:29,880 Exactly. 236 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:31,560 And that's a huge loss for everyone. 237 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:32,080 It is. 238 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,240 One of the studies you sent, it actually put a number on this. 239 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:36,080 Really? 240 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,880 It said companies are losing an estimated $11 billion. 241 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:40,680 Wow. 242 00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:41,600 Every year. 243 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:42,760 That's a lot. 244 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,280 Because of employees feeling disengaged. 245 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:45,720 Yeah. 246 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,560 From feeling undervalued, not hurt. 247 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:49,920 It's a staggering number. 248 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:51,160 And it's billion with a B. 249 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,800 It really shows you the cost of ignoring the signal. 250 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:55,160 Right. 251 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:56,560 And getting caught up in the noise. 252 00:08:56,560 --> 00:08:57,200 Exactly. 253 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:58,840 But even beyond the money. 254 00:08:58,840 --> 00:08:59,240 Right. 255 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:00,760 There's like a moral issue here. 256 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,080 Oh, absolutely. 257 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,560 It's just wrong to judge someone based on how they speak. 258 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:06,120 Totally. 259 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:07,840 Instead of what they're actually saying. 260 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:08,760 I couldn't agree more. 261 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:13,120 You mentioned in your notes that you've actually seen this happen like firsthand 262 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:14,240 at a previous job. 263 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:14,880 Oh yeah. 264 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,320 You saw colleagues struggling to be heard. 265 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:18,000 I did. 266 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:18,520 I did. 267 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,280 Even though they had these great contributions to make. 268 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,880 It was so frustrating, you know, seeing all this talent just sidelined 269 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,280 because their communication style didn't fit the mold. 270 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:29,680 It makes you realize how important it is. 271 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:30,200 Yeah. 272 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:31,600 To create that culture. 273 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:32,120 Right. 274 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:33,240 Where everyone feels safe. 275 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:34,440 To suppress themselves. 276 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:35,480 To be themselves. 277 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:36,240 Exactly. 278 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:41,080 So how do we go from like a culture of judgment to one of curiosity. 279 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:41,600 Yeah. 280 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,880 And appreciation for all these different styles. 281 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,120 Well, that book you sent on Cross-Cross-Border, 282 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,640 it stressed that it starts with awareness. 283 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,040 We've got to learn about the cultures we're interacting with. 284 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:51,600 Yeah. 285 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,920 And be aware of our own biases, you know. 286 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:54,720 Uh-huh. 287 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,040 You were right on about mentorship programs. 288 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:57,640 Oh yeah. 289 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:59,240 That book had a great example. 290 00:09:59,240 --> 00:09:59,960 Yeah. 291 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:01,560 Of how powerful they can be. 292 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:04,720 For supporting people who feel like they're not being heard. 293 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:05,240 Right. 294 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:06,960 It's like having a guide, not just for the language, 295 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:08,960 but for the whole unwritten rules of speaking. 296 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:09,480 Yeah. 297 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:10,000 Their culture. 298 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:10,520 Exactly. 299 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,200 And it's not just about helping people adapt to the new culture. 300 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:18,280 It's about using those diverse perspectives to actually make 301 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,080 the company culture richer. 302 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:21,080 Makes sense. 303 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,320 You know, you sent a link to a TED Talk about psychological safety. 304 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:24,840 Oh yeah. 305 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:25,880 That was a good one. 306 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:27,440 How does that fit into all of this? 307 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:28,720 It's totally relevant. 308 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:29,400 OK. 309 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,640 The speaker was saying that a culture of psychological safety, 310 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,920 that's where people feel comfortable speaking up. 311 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:36,440 Right. 312 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:38,040 Sharing their ideas. 313 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:39,120 Even admitting mistakes. 314 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:39,640 Exactly. 315 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,280 Without being afraid of like, putting things in their hands. 316 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,680 Exactly, without being afraid of like, negative consequences. 317 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:46,560 Yeah. 318 00:10:46,560 --> 00:10:49,760 And that's essential for innovation and creativity. 319 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,480 So in the context of signal versus noise. 320 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:53,360 Yeah. 321 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,320 Psychological safety means we encourage people 322 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,040 to share those signal ideas. 323 00:10:58,040 --> 00:10:58,680 Yes. 324 00:10:58,680 --> 00:11:02,280 Even if they're communicated in a way that feels a little noisy. 325 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:02,960 Exactly. 326 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:03,480 At first. 327 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:03,960 Yeah. 328 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:04,480 Right. 329 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:08,160 And leaders, they play a huge role in creating this environment. 330 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,160 It's about setting the tone. 331 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,560 Modeling those inclusive behaviors. 332 00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:13,120 Yeah. 333 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,840 Actively looking for different viewpoints. 334 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:17,400 One of the reports you sent actually 335 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,280 looked at the leadership styles. 336 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:20,160 Oh, interesting. 337 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:24,000 Of CEOs in companies that are known for being signal focused. 338 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:24,800 Yeah. 339 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,240 And those leaders, they were always 340 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,160 willing to listen to different opinions. 341 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:30,660 Wow. 342 00:11:30,660 --> 00:11:32,960 They admitted when they were wrong. 343 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,320 And they created space for others to shine. 344 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,840 And think about the impact that has on the team. 345 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:38,360 Right. 346 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,720 And leaders are humble and open like that. 347 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:41,240 Yeah. 348 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,880 It gives everyone else permission to do the same. 349 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:45,520 It creates that ripple effect. 350 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:46,040 Totally. 351 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:47,840 So it's not just about avoiding the noise. 352 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:49,920 It's about amplifying the signal. 353 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:51,800 No matter where it comes from. 354 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:52,960 But let's be real. 355 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:54,160 We all make mistakes. 356 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:54,800 We do. 357 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,040 We're going to misinterpret things. 358 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:56,600 Yeah. 359 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,360 Especially in cross-cultural interactions. 360 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,480 How do we create that culture where 361 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,440 it's OK to make mistakes and learn from them? 362 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:07,280 That's where growth mindset comes in. 363 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:07,920 OK. 364 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,840 It's not seeing mistakes as failures. 365 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:10,340 Yeah. 366 00:12:10,340 --> 00:12:12,600 But as chances to learn and grow. 367 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:14,600 That reminds me of something from that podcast you shared. 368 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:15,440 Yeah. 369 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,200 The CEO talked about celebrating good failures. 370 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:19,240 Oh. 371 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,040 Mistakes made with good intentions. 372 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:21,480 Right. 373 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:22,880 Where you actually learn something. 374 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:23,380 Yeah. 375 00:12:23,380 --> 00:12:25,400 It's about creating that safe space 376 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,440 where people feel comfortable saying, hey, I messed up. 377 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:28,940 Yeah. 378 00:12:28,940 --> 00:12:30,960 Asking for help and learning from each other. 379 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,280 So it's not about avoiding those awkward moments. 380 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,360 It's about using them to build stronger relationships. 381 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:37,880 And become better communicators. 382 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:38,380 Right. 383 00:12:38,380 --> 00:12:41,880 So we've got empathy, psychological safety, 384 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,240 growth mindset, and constructive feedback. 385 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:46,160 Yeah. 386 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:47,480 All working together. 387 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:48,560 I all play a part. 388 00:12:48,560 --> 00:12:51,960 To create a culture where the signal can thrive. 389 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:53,000 Exactly. 390 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,640 But it's not just about good vibes. 391 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:55,320 You know? 392 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,760 There are real benefits to this signal-focused culture. 393 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:00,800 We've talked about the cost of miscommunication. 394 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:01,480 Yeah. 395 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:02,760 But what about the gains? 396 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:03,100 Right. 397 00:13:03,100 --> 00:13:04,960 What happens when companies actually get this right? 398 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,040 That's what we'll be talking about in the final part 399 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:07,800 of our deep dive. 400 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:08,800 I'm excited to hear it. 401 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,040 We're going to look at the real, tangible benefits. 402 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:11,520 Yeah. 403 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,280 And we'll talk about what you can do. 404 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:13,780 Right. 405 00:13:13,780 --> 00:13:15,460 To start amplifying the signal. 406 00:13:15,460 --> 00:13:16,160 Awesome. 407 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:17,520 In your own workplace. 408 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,040 So stay tuned. 409 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:20,880 Ah. 410 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:21,380 All right. 411 00:13:21,380 --> 00:13:23,400 Welcome back to the deep dive. 412 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,440 So we spent the last two parts really 413 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,240 getting into this whole signal versus noise idea. 414 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:29,560 You know, why it matters. 415 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:34,260 And how a noisy environment can actually hurt a business. 416 00:13:34,260 --> 00:13:36,640 But now, let's flip it and talk about the good stuff. 417 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:36,920 Yeah. 418 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:38,680 You sent over some really interesting stuff 419 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:42,360 about the potential benefits of being a signal-focused 420 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:43,800 organization. 421 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:45,840 What were some of the biggest takeaways for you? 422 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:47,640 You know, the most exciting part is it's not just 423 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:48,880 about avoiding the bad stuff. 424 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,200 The stuff you sent really shows that being signal-focused 425 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,280 can actually be a superpower for success. 426 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:55,800 Right. 427 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,280 Remember that case study about the global software company? 428 00:13:59,280 --> 00:13:59,680 Yeah. 429 00:13:59,680 --> 00:14:00,800 That one was really something. 430 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:01,280 Right. 431 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:02,960 They actually put all those strategies 432 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,360 we talked about into practice. 433 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,800 You know, like the cultural awareness training, 434 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,280 the mentorship programs, all of it. 435 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:10,360 Yeah, they went all in. 436 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:11,280 What happened? 437 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,720 Well, their profits went up like 20% in just two years. 438 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:15,220 Wow. 439 00:14:15,220 --> 00:14:16,400 But it wasn't just the money. 440 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,680 You know, employee satisfaction went way up. 441 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,280 They started attracting top talent from everywhere. 442 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:22,780 OK. 443 00:14:22,780 --> 00:14:25,520 And they became known for having the best, most 444 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:27,240 innovative products. 445 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:31,360 It's like proof that putting in the effort for this signal 446 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,600 focused approach, it can really have this ripple effect. 447 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:35,240 Of time. 448 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:36,040 On the whole company. 449 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:36,960 Across the board. 450 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,720 I know from your notes, you're really 451 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,640 interested in how this impacts decision making. 452 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:42,200 Oh, yeah. 453 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:43,800 Did any of the stuff you read touch on that? 454 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:44,400 Definitely. 455 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:46,200 Like one of those white papers you sent in, 456 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,720 it talked about how a signal-focused approach 457 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,720 helps you make better decisions and faster too. 458 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:52,560 Oh, interesting. 459 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,440 Because when you cut through all that noise, 460 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,920 and you can zero in on what really matters, 461 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,720 you don't get stuck in that analysis paralysis. 462 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:02,800 That makes sense. 463 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:04,640 And it's not just speed either. 464 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:05,140 No. 465 00:15:05,140 --> 00:15:07,480 You're really hearing from different people, 466 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,280 considering all sorts of ideas. 467 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:09,680 Right. 468 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,880 You're less likely to fall into that group think trap. 469 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:13,160 Exactly. 470 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,000 That white paper even had a study in it 471 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,320 that showed that diverse teams make more objective decisions, 472 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:20,400 like more well-rounded ones, compared to groups 473 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:21,360 that are all the same. 474 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,160 It's about using the power of those different viewpoints 475 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:26,400 to make better choices. 476 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:27,640 But let's be real. 477 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,080 This stuff isn't always easy. 478 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,000 Oh, no. 479 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,720 In your notes, you mentioned feeling kind of overwhelmed 480 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,880 sometimes with just the sheer amount of information 481 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,520 and all those different communication styles in your work. 482 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:39,320 All the time. 483 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:40,840 It can be a lot. 484 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,840 But one of the articles you sent about practical tips 485 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:48,560 for amplifying the signal, it had this really helpful analogy. 486 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,440 It said to think of yourself like a detective solving 487 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:52,280 a case. 488 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:53,120 OK, I like that. 489 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,320 So we're not just listening passively. 490 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:55,820 Right. 491 00:15:55,820 --> 00:15:56,640 We're looking for clues. 492 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:57,200 Exactly. 493 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:58,760 Like the article said, ask yourself, 494 00:15:58,760 --> 00:15:59,960 what's the main message here? 495 00:15:59,960 --> 00:16:02,480 What's this person really trying to say? 496 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:03,720 What's important? 497 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:05,080 And what's just noise? 498 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,160 It's like creating this mental filter 499 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:10,280 to help us focus on the most valuable stuff. 500 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:12,360 And remember, it's not about ignoring 501 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,000 the cultural differences or making everyone communicate 502 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:15,840 the same way. 503 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:17,720 It's about recognizing those differences, 504 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,400 appreciating them, but still being 505 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,920 able to pick out the signal, the ideas and insights that 506 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:25,480 help us succeed. 507 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,960 Now, you also mentioned that you felt a bit stuck on what 508 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,080 you can do personally to be more signal focused. 509 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:32,480 Yeah. 510 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,360 Especially because you're not in a leadership position 511 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:34,920 right now. 512 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:35,000 Right. 513 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,520 Did anything you read address that? 514 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:37,240 Totally. 515 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,400 One of the books made the point that change 516 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:40,920 starts with each person. 517 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,560 You know, you don't have to be the CEO to make a difference. 518 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:46,360 It starts with your own communication. 519 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:46,860 OK. 520 00:16:46,860 --> 00:16:50,320 Like, are you being clear, concise, respectful? 521 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:53,320 Are you really listening, asking questions when you need to? 522 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,200 So it's about showing those signal focused behaviors. 523 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:56,880 Yes. 524 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:57,480 Exactly. 525 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:58,920 Even in everyday conversations. 526 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,440 And don't be afraid to speak up in your team, 527 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:02,680 in your department. 528 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,200 Share articles, start discussions, 529 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,800 suggest some of the strategies we've talked about. 530 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:09,680 Even small things can make a difference. 531 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:11,320 It's about being proactive. 532 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:11,820 Right. 533 00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:14,180 And taking ownership of the communication culture 534 00:17:14,180 --> 00:17:15,280 around you. 535 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:16,560 And you know, this is a journey. 536 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,680 It's not like you just arrive one day and you're done. 537 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:19,400 Yeah, of course. 538 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,880 You're going to get distracted by the noise sometimes 539 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,240 or misinterpret something or just not have the energy 540 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,200 to be totally present. 541 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:27,760 It happens. 542 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,360 Be kind to yourself, learn from it, 543 00:17:30,360 --> 00:17:32,080 and just keep practicing. 544 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,000 It's about progress, not perfection. 545 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:34,760 Absolutely. 546 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:37,080 And the more we practice, the better we get at tuning 547 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:38,280 in to those signals. 548 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:38,780 Yeah. 549 00:17:38,780 --> 00:17:41,040 No matter where they come from or how they're expressed. 550 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:42,320 You got it. 551 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:44,800 And when we can all do that, think about what's possible. 552 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:45,280 Yeah. 553 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,420 Stronger teams, better decisions, 554 00:17:47,420 --> 00:17:49,720 more creative solutions, a world where 555 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:51,840 everyone feels heard and valued. 556 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:53,320 It's a great vision to work towards. 557 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:53,960 It is. 558 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:55,800 So as we wrap up this deep dive, what's 559 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,300 like the one key takeaway you want to leave our listener 560 00:17:58,300 --> 00:17:59,040 with? 561 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,760 Don't let the noise of those little differences 562 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:04,440 drown out all the amazing ideas out there. 563 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:05,760 Challenge yourself. 564 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:07,240 Be empathetic. 565 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,360 And remember, the best insights can come 566 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:11,120 from the most unexpected places. 567 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:12,640 That's a really great message. 568 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,480 And remember, this is just the beginning. 569 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,760 Keep exploring those materials you sent in. 570 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:17,800 Keep practicing. 571 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:22,360 And keep pushing for a more inclusive signal-focused world. 572 00:18:22,360 --> 00:18:24,080 Thanks for joining us on the deep dive. 573 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:29,360 And we'll see you next time.